Her cheeks flush pink as she opens her mouth and closes it, and then huffs and says, “You are impossible. . .ugh. . .what the hell!”
She grabs my face without warning, yanks me to her and kisses me.
Holy fucking shit. I wasn’t expecting that.
I lift my hands, and slide my fingers to the nape of her neck, grabbing a fistful of red hair in my hand. I hold her to me as she assaults my mouth with hers. Then her tongue parts my lips, fucking my mouth. She slides her hand between us and grips my cock through my pants. I jerk my hips, groan, walk her backwards until her back is pressed to a wall but she pushes me back, somehow flipping me around on my back and I let her. I let her because I know she needs this. I need this too, and for once, I see the little firecracker I left behind all those years ago. She’s still fierce and I love it. Then she pulls back, her cheeks flushed, lips swollen and eyes bright, breathing hard.
Shit. That was fucking amazing. I grab her hips to pull her back, eager to let her consume me as I want to consume her, but she pushes against my chest with trembling hands, her chest heaving up and down fast.
“You think you’re the only one who lost something? I lost you. I lost my world. You were my world but I couldn’t let anyone destroy my everything. Not even my father. You, Cole, were my everything.” She steps forward, her eyes narrowed at me. “Stay away from me, Cole. If you’re ready to talk, come and see me, and I hope to hell your Batman won’t be doing the thinking next time. Pull your head out of your ass for more than three seconds and listen.”
She pats back the tresses of red hair that have escaped the bun after my manhandling and adjusts the front of her dress where her breasts are eagerly calling for me. She opens her mouth and says, “I’m leaving now.”
“We are not done talking.” I step around to block her way.
She looks up at me, one eyebrow raised. “Well. Boo-freaking-hoo. Don’t. Follow. Me. You big brute.” She adds the last part with a swift lift of her chin, and then she spins around and strides away.
Whoa. I feel like a tornado just whooped my ass, and instead of destroying me, it left me wanting more.
After taking deep breaths, I’m hot on her trail as she rushes toward Abe—the whoring motherfucker—as though Satan is after her ass. The magnitude with which I crave that cute little ass is immense, Satan has nothing on me. Simon intercepts me, causing me to stop.
“Can I speak with you? Alone?” Simon signs, staring at me meaningfully.
“Get out of my way, Simon.”
“Not going to happen. Unless you want to continue entertaining the guests with your He-Man tendencies, then, by all means.” He smirks, wagging his eyebrows.
I scan the room, my heart still racing after that hot little session in the kitchen. My parents are standing near the front door, staring in our direction. Mom is frowning and my dad is rubbing his chin as if he’s contemplating something.
My gaze flickers to where Nor is staring nervously in my direction. She gives Simon a look of relief and then shoots me a grimace. Her chin juts out and she turns back to face Abe.
I follow my idiotic best friend while gritting my teeth.
“You’re treading on very dangerous grounds, Simon. What do you want?”
He stops and turns to face me. “Jesus, Cole. What kind of foreplay was that? You and Nor literally eye fucked each other in front of everyone. And then you dragged her out of the room, looking like you were about to kill her. Or fuck her. You need to dial down whatever you’re going through. I thought you hated her.”
I clench my jaw. “What do you want?”
He rolls his eyes. “Fred Kiplinger wants to meet with you and Tate as soon as possible. Tate will meet you in Boston.”
Fuck. “I can’t leave Nor and the girls just yet.”
He stares at me hard. “I agree with you. They need you. But you are not in a position to be here for them acting the way you did. Dude, that shit would be hot if it weren’t for Josh being dead.”
“Stay the fuck out of my business.”
He raises his hands in surrender and takes a step back, grinning. “Look at it this way. That trip to Boston will be you putting things into perspective. And when you come back, you can go and get her before you drive everyone crazy with your shitty attitude, you moody bastard.”
MY PHONE ON THE WOODEN table beeps and then lights up with a text message. I reach for it, squint at the screen, and smile as I tap on the yellow envelope.
Megs: How are you and the girls?
Me: Girls are sleeping. I’m on the roof.
I press send and then grab the glass of Bailey’s and Coke, and take a sip. I set it back on the table just as my screen lights up.
Megs: I’m coming over.